Down To The Wire

Hillel Day School teacher contract still debated.

2001 Deville Highlight Sedan

GM Employees Price

$38 920

•

Sale Price

$39,995

Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit

DIANA LIEBERMAN

Copy Editor

111

1 hen teacher contracts at
Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit
expire, talks usually go
to the deadline before a new agree-
ment is reached.
This year is no exception.
Members of the Hillel Teachers
Association of Metropolitan Detroit,
Local 1899 of the Michigan
Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO,
have been working on a three-year
contract that expired Aug. 31. When
several months of talks failed to reach
a new agreement, union and adminis-
tration negotiators extended the con-
tract until Thursday, Sept. 6.
The most recent negotiations before
the Jewish News went to press took
place on Tuesday, Sept. 4. At that
time, union negotiators presented a
counterproposal to the administra-
tion's latest offer, said Robin Beth
Lash, union president.
Both sides declined to discuss
specifics of the negotiations.
"We hope we can reach a fair and
equitable agreement before the end of
the contract extension," said Lash, who
teaches upper school drama and music.
Robert Orley, board chair of the
Farmington Hills school, leads the
administration's negotiating commit-
tee. "The board of directors and
administration of Hillel Day School,
through their appointed representa-
tives, continue to negotiate in good
_faith at the bargaining table and hope
the process will be resolved in the near
future," Orley said. •
Hillel began classes at its Farmington

Hills campus on Aug. 27 with more
than 760 students in kindergarten
through eighth grade. Its faculty,
including teacher aides, resource room
teachers and teaching assistants, num-
bers 90. Only regular teachers, 70 in
all, belong to the union, Lash said.
Aides, resource room teachers and assis-
tants negotiate on their own, she said.
In a letter • to parents dated Aug. 30
and signed by Lash, the union out-
lined some of the key issues they feel
are still standing in the way of an
agreement.
The letter states that Hillel's admin-
istration has proposed adding extra
minutes to the school day and extra
days to the school year "without con-
sideration for compensation."
The number of days and minutes
are still open to negotiation. Any addi-
tional minutes would be in class time,
not time passing between classes.
The teachers also feel their proposed
wage increases are "minimal."
In addition, union members seek a
limit on the number of administrative
meetings during common "prep" time
— the time in the daily schedule when
teachers have a chance to plan their
classes. Cutting down on required
meetings would allow teachers to work
together on joint curricula and inter-
disciplinary programs, Lash said.
"The letter was just informational,"
Lash said. "It was not meant to sabo-
tage what's going on."
A bargaining session was scheduled
for the day the contract expires,
Thursday, Sept. 6. ❑

See www.detroitjewishnews.com Friday
for an update on the Hillel Day School
teacher contract.

THE FUSION OF DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

AUDETTE

248.85'1.7200

7100 Orchard Lake Road, W. Bloomfield

Mon. & Thurs. till 9:00 – Tues., Wed., Fri. till 6:00

www.audettecadillac.com

,:aagt

:N.Ka

Nath‘VANNAUNT

NNAWN.,MMSNM&NEV6k • „ ,

ffordable Elegance
in Assisted Living.
Welcome to
The Court At West Bloomfield

4

A residence that combines all the
grandeur of your home with
assistance available for the asking.
A place you can relax, knowing yo,
needs are attended to. Where nurse
and their staff provide the care that
you need. 24 hours a day.

The Court offers a true sense
of independence in a safe, caring
environment. The Court is now
offering new pricing, with rooms
starting at $2,150 per month.

The Court...All of the grandeur
of fine living in a safe, caring
environment.

•

The Court At West Bloomfield

Owned & Operated by HCR ManorCare
6950 Farmington Road, just south of Maple
West Bloomfield • 248-661-1700

9/7